ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) – Albany High School will soon have a brand new swimming pool for the first time since March 2015.

In March 2015, the extreme cold caused an exterior wall of the Albany High School pool house to collapse. There was also corrosion to pipes and tanks.

For 1.5 years, the high school pool had been cordoned off. The swim team had to use the pool at Myers Middle School. But voters have approved a tax-free plan to rebuild the pool house.

Now, scaffolding fills the pool as a major renovation project for the roof has been underway since summer. Students and school officials broke ground for the rest of the pool house rebuilding project on Tuesday.

It is scheduled to be completed in spring 2017. Swim team members are grateful.

“I know this project is a culmination of hard work from everyone in the community,” swimmer Cedric Cello said. “I’d like to thank everyone. I’m excited to come back and see the pool in full swing.”